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The ray nature of light is used to explain how light reflects off of planar and curved surfaces to produce both real and virtual images; the nature of the images produced by plane mirrors, concave mirrors, and convex mirrors is thoroughly illustrated.
A mirror is a reflective surface that does not allow the passage of light and instead bounces it off, thus producing an image. The most common mirrors are flat and called plane mirrors. These mirrors are made by putting a thin layer of silver nitrate or aluminium behind a flat piece of glass.
In this chapter, we look at the reflection of light, how light interacts with mirrors, and how mirrors can be used to form images. To understand reflection and image formation, we will use a model of light based on rays and wave fronts – this is a much simpler model than the electromagnetic wave perspective.
26 sty 2023 · The object emanates rays in all direction. Some of those rays hit the reflective surface of the mirror and reflect back. An observer standing in front of the mirror will then detect the reflected rays and interpret them as originating from some location from which the rays take a straight path.
13 kwi 2023 · Artwork: How a mirror works: silver atoms inside catch and reflect light beams. For the conservation of energy to hold true, light beams must reflect back at the same angle they hit the mirror. The backboard is a protective backing that stops the mirror surface from being scratched.
If a ray of light could be observed approaching and reflecting off of a flat mirror, then the behavior of the light as it reflects would follow a predictable law known as the law of reflection. The diagram below illustrates the law of reflection.
See how light rays are refracted by a lens or reflected by a mirror. Observe how the image changes when you adjust the focal length of the lens, move the object, or move the screen.
